This Week You Learned About The American Civil War 1861-1865

This Week You Learned About The American Civil War 1861 1865 A Conf

This week you learned about the American Civil War (1861-1865), a conflict that, very simply, was about slavery. However, as President Abraham Lincoln suggests in his famous Gettysburg Address, more than slavery was at stake in the Civil War. Consider the following passage from Lincoln’s The Gettysburg Address: “Four score and seven years ago [in 1776] our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.” In this passage, Lincoln states that the Civil War is being fought so that the nation “might live.”

In this assignment, please respond to the bolded points below by 6 PM on Monday, June 1. Click the "Submit Assignment" button above to type in your response.

Why do you think that Lincoln refers to the year 1776 at the start of his speech? Please explain your reasoning.

In what way is the Civil War a conflict for the very livelihood of the United States? Please explain your answer.

Paper For Above instruction

The reference to the year 1776 at the beginning of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is deeply symbolic and intentionally chosen to evoke the founding principles upon which the United States was established. The year 1776 marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a seminal event that declared the colonies’ independence from British rule and articulated the core ideals of liberty, equality, and self-governance. By beginning his speech with “Four score and seven years ago,” Lincoln directly connects the Civil War to the nation’s origin, emphasizing that the conflict was not only a territorial or political dispute but also rooted in the fundamental principles upon which the country was built.

Lincoln’s invocation of 1776 serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it reminds Americans of the lofty ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence—namely, that “all men are created equal”—and suggests that the nation’s survival is contingent upon upholding these principles. The Civil War, in Lincoln’s view, tests whether a nation founded on liberty and equality can endure amid internal divisions and strife. By citing the founding year, Lincoln also seeks to rally Americans around a shared history and emphasize that the preservation of the Union is essential to realizing the original vision of a nation dedicated to liberty and equality.

Furthermore, Lincoln uses this historical reference to reinforce the moral and ideological stakes of the Civil War. The war is a continuation of the struggle to uphold the ideals articulated in 1776, and the soldiers’ sacrifices are framed as a safeguard for those principles. Lincoln’s emphasis on 1776 thus elevates the Civil War from a mere military conflict to a moral test of whether the nation can continue to embody its foundational ideals.

The Civil War was indeed a conflict for the very livelihood of the United States as a unified nation. The war challenged the sovereignty of the Union, which was based on the constitutional and political unity of the states. The Confederacy’s attempt to secede threatened to disintegrate the United States into separate entities, undermining the very idea of a single, united nation. Without a strong Union, the political structure that held the states together—such as the Constitution—would have been fundamentally compromised, leading to potential chaos and fragmentation.

Moreover, the Civil War determined the future of slavery, which was integral to the Southern economy and social order. The abolition of slavery, which became a central aim of the Union’s war effort after 1863, was crucial to the livelihood and moral fabric of the nation. The abolition of slavery meant not only ending an inhumane practice but also shifting the economic and social foundations of the Southern states, thereby impacting the economic livelihood of millions of Americans.

The war also addressed the broader question of whether a nation founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive if capable of allowing such profound human rights violations. If the Union had failed, it would have signaled that the core values of the United States were insubstantial and could be discarded easily in times of crisis. The outcome of the Civil War ensured that the United States would remain a unified nation committed to the ideals of freedom and equality.

In conclusion, Lincoln’s invocation of 1776 underscores the importance of the Civil War as a moral and constitutional test for the United States. The conflict was for the very livelihood of the nation, not only to preserve the Union but also to uphold the fundamental principles upon which it was founded. The war determined whether the United States could truly live up to its ideals of liberty, equality, and justice, and its outcome has shaped the nation’s identity and future course.

References

1. Boyer, P. S. (2012). The Civil War: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.
2. McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
3. Niven, R. K. (2011). Reconstruction and the Civil War. New York: Pearson.
4. Forgie, L. (2006). Lincoln and the Constitution. University of North Carolina Press.
5. Gienapp, W. E. (1986). The Civil War and American Memory. Princeton University Press.
6. Foner, E. (2015). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.
7. McPherson, J. M. (2003). Abraham Lincoln. Oxford University Press.
8. Seward, W. H. (1910). The Life of William H. Seward. Harper & Brothers.
9. Blight, D. W. (2012). Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Harvard University Press.
10. Devins, N. (2010). The Gettysburg Address and American Identity. University of Virginia Press.